Welcome to Our Photo Shoot...

Taken by the creative, joyful, talented and always laughing-KristinShyla. (go on over to her blog, you won't be disappointed!)

Kristin-Thank you, Thank you, Thank you-for serving, loving, laughing, smiling, enjoying, believing and photographing!

Here are the some of the rest of our shoot, I mean Kristin took about 500 photos.  :)  

I don't want to forget these days.  

And these days that are flying by...

I want to remember that we do have more laughing, smiling, joyful days then challenging, fall on the floor in despair days (though they do exist).  

We have GREAT kids that love each other and us and anyone that comes into our house.  

We are still in love, best friends and want to be more so! after almost 12+ years of marriage-meeting when we were the wee age of 16. :)

The Lord has put us in Raleigh and we really enjoy this city.

Our life is FUN!  We do fun things.  We explore the outdoors and indoors of Raleigh and the East coast. What a blessing!

We enjoy being silly/crazy and need to do it more often.

Our little boy is 4.5 and growing up way to quickly for us. He's honest, a natural helper, struggles when he can't get things right, he's full of energy, creative, loves to give hugs and wants to wrestle or work with Daddy as much as possible-after all Daddy is his first hero.

Katie, oh Katie Grace...why are you growing up too?  You are 6.5, creative, love to sing songs, twirl around and create a story, you're intuitive, have a million and one things going on at once, detest putting away your clothes, love to read, love to color/draw and could snuggle at anytime of the day or night.

And finally, I want to remember who freely gives joy and life, thats what makes us honestly happy.  May we all find JOY in Jesus for life that is truly life and for freedom that is truly free.

Inspired

This girl can color.  She is an artist at heart. She can imagine all sorts of things and then tries to put then down in her sketch book.

This was a melt.my.heart.moment.

I love peeking around the corner after dinner and seeing this girl, focused, calm and creative!

Remember when you were little and sitting on the heating vent was a highlight of your day?  

Somethings never change

:)

Our Two Crazies (said with Love! :)

 Thanks Kristin for our fun photos and your great dress up suitcase!

I Need to Post More...But Here's to 2014

So much happens in a day.  So much.  

The kids grow, we are refined by our faithful gracious merciful Father, we try a new recipe or enjoy an old one, we see friends, we talk to family, we read a book, we drive from here to there, we go outside, we swing on the tire swing, we pass Kindergarten parents in the carpool line, we try to get to bed and get good rest, we have nighttime snugglers, we are thankful for warm water for showers, we work, we smile, we live each and every day.

We are praying this year is one of authenticity and wonder.  We are working on dating, loving our kids with time especially for each of them and striving to love on the community we are around. 

There's more in my old brain, but thats what I have right now.

Heres to 2014-to be authentic...thats who God made us to be!

His Play Canvas

I get the privilege of playing with Owen while Katie is in school.  And though I wish I took advantage of it more often (instead of doing errands and such) today we did play!  It is a joy to watch life through the eyes of our kids...and our 4 year old today was no exception.  He brought out his trains, farm animals, jungle animals and dinos to create his play canvas.  

Owen, we love you and all that God has created in you.  Never stop creating and playing!